WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. November 8, 2005: Two readers react to WPCNR's analysis of the Mayoral Campaign going into Election Day. Their Comments:

I think your article on Delfino and Power's communication efforts in the bottom of the ninth
misses a huge component.
(More)

There's no mention of the groundswell of grassroots support Power has received in recent weeks--including the formation of a citizens group of activists that has been plastering clever ads and virally e-mailing witty commercials on behalf of Dennis Power all over town.

People have been reacting to them in front of Rooster's, What-a-Bagel, outside the New York Sports Club, both CVS's, Stop & Shop-- everywhere.  Are they voters?

I'm sure the Power supporters think so.

Also, Jib-Jab type viral emails such as "Mr. Minutia" have been circulating as well. I found that one
particularly funny and insightful.

Is rebellious Jon Stewart/Onion-style wit more compelling than political wallpaper?

That's a key question.

It will be interesting to see whether conventional robo-phone calls, "salute-the-candidate" carnivals,
and heavily funded glossy mailers and radio ads trigger voter choice better than underfunded, but
clever grassroots zeal.

Alex Whaler

COMMENTATOR 2:

Mr, Bailey, I read your assumptions on the Power campaign and as  someone who has followed the campaign, I can tell you the truth of what  I've seen and that you're way off the mark as far as Democratic  endorsements.

To focus on the fact that Mr. Power didn't run several mailers with his  Democrat buddies is a very shallow way to view politics. Campaigns are  run--and won-- in other ways than media exposure and junk mail.

I've been to many of the Power events because I'm interested in options  for the new direction we can lead White Plains. At pretty much every  event, I've seen Adam Bradley, Bill Ryan, and/or Glen Hockley shoulder  to shoulder with Dennis Power and speaking in complete support. Live.
Where people dont' throw the message in the garbage.

Yesterday I caught Andy Spano with him as well. Shoulder to shoulder. I  believe if you go to the Power for Mayor website, there is also a photo of Power with Hillary Clinton.

I received 2 or 3 mailers supporting Power by the Democratic team, and  also one yesterday from Bill Ryan. I think you're dreaming if you think  there's lack of Dem support for Mr. Power.

Mailings and automated phone calls cost money. The Power campaign is  obviously running lean and mean -- without the quarter million dollar  coffers of the Delfino camp.  I'm sure if the Power campaign had  pursued the avenue of automated  and could afford them, messages from
Bill & Hillary Clinton would have been on the horn with you.

Personally, I think automated calls are annoying and it was smart for  them to stay away from them.

I know many, many people aside from my neighborhood voting for Dennis
Power today.

My only question now is, when he's elected tonight, will you, Mr.
Bailey, publicly admit on this site to being dead wrong when it comes
to campaign tactics?

J Neil
White Plains